By Joe Churchill
[Author’s note: The following is an excerpt from an article I wrote in 2017. Although the dates have changed, the benefits of attending the SFMA Conference remain the same.]
If you want to step out of the crowd and accept that there is more to your job than being stuck in the same mind-numbing routine every day, make it a personal goal to attend the 2026 Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) Conference and Exhibition in Fort Worth, Texas.
Commit to learning more about the conference and its educational and networking opportunities. Meet with manufacturers who serve our industry and the people who drive this great professional association. Develop an understanding of the conference’s value — not only to you, but also to your employer.
Yes, it’s easy for me to say you should attend, and to assure you the value of this opportunity far exceeds the financial and time investment. Your silence and eye rolls are not lost on me. Right now, you’re making a mental list of multiple reasons why it just isn’t going to happen:
It costs a lot of money.
I don’t know how to ask. My boss will say “no” anyway.
There’s no budget for that.
My employer has a policy against this sort of travel.
It’s time away from my job and my family.
I would probably have to take vacation days to go even if it were approved.
It’s frivolous and is just a vacation in sheep’s clothing.
Yep. There is a cost attached to attending. And, head’s up, anticipate your employer factoring in the wages you’d make if you were back home working.
As you set off to present your case for attending, be careful when talking about costs or expenses. These are negative-sounding words. Use words like “investment,” “opportunity,” or “return on investment.”
Speaking of ROI, why not turn the tables on this cost/benefit model and refer to NOT attending as a “COI”— Cost of Inaction. In other words, by not attending the SFMA Conference, what could it possibly be costing you? Do your research and be prepared to talk about making an investment in yourself and the institution for which you work.
Visit www.sportsfieldmanagement.org and explore the conference education tracks, and identify several topics that resonate with you. Think about how learning more about these topics could help you address ongoing sports field management challenges you struggle with at your own workplace. There are presentations each year about how to save on fertilizer, chemicals or water; how to save labor dollars; or how to manage scheduling challenges. What you learn will more than offset the cost of attendance.
Showing your boss that you’ve done the research will show how serious you are, how important you feel it is to attend, and how committed you are to finding ways to do your job better. Attendees who purchase a full conference registration receive free on-demand access to education sessions that are recorded during the conference. You can share what you learn with your boss and colleagues.
This may be a valid point. Companies, municipalities, schools, etc., all operate within an expense budget. If the money just isn’t there, it can’t be spent. Creative budget managers can find ways around this by shifting dollars between accounts or deferring an expense. Maybe this is an option for you. If not, at least have the discussion this year and ask your boss if funds could be added to next year’s budget for educational purposes or personal improvement. When you put it that way, it’s a bit harder to say “no” — especially after you’ve thoughtfully presented your case. You may have to plan ahead.
You got me there; you probably have an uphill climb in front of you. But don’t assume that just because it has always been done that way that that’s the way it’s always going to be. Lay your groundwork now and be first in line when the moratorium is lifted or the money begins to flow again. Perhaps these sorts of training opportunities are available only to those of a certain pay grade. Ask if an exception can be made once you’ve presented your case. Maybe you can negotiate or barter for what you want. Are there other “value-added” things that your employer routinely offers that you could trade or give up for a ticket to the SFMA Conference?
They’ll do just fine without you at work while you’re gone for three or four days. The SFMA Conference takes place in January. If you feel it’s your calling to attend and you want it bad enough, you’ll figure out a way.
Yes, you might. I know a few sports field managers who have taken PTO days to attend the SFMA Conference. Many of them also paid their own travel expenses. These are personal decisions to make. I also know sports field managers who have had their attendance fully covered by their employer once their bosses saw the value. Perhaps you could negotiate some of these expenses with your employer. Maybe they handle conference registration and you pick up the airfare and hotel. Showing your boss you’re willing to put some skin in the game will show how important this is to you. Use
“airline miles” and find a roommate.
Not so. Do your homework, present your case, and figure out the return on investment. Your prep work will help combat this mindset. Take the focus off the conference location and place it back where it needs to be — professional growth and learning new ways to become a more valuable asset to your employer. Defuse the vacation mindset by suggesting to your boss that they come along. I’ve seen this work. It’s a great way for them to see the value firsthand.
Companies and institutions that invest in key personnel know they have a better chance of retaining those employees. Some of the mainstream methods of investing in employees include continued education opportunities that result in personal growth, more job satisfaction and making them feel they are more involved and part of something important. They may not vocalize this, but most employers understand this. The cost to hire and train people, pay them and provide non-salary benefits (insurance, retirement accounts, pensions) becomes more staggering each year. Employers invest regularly in professional consultants and leadership coaches to help them motivate and retain great employees. Ignoring employee development opportunities only creates a work culture equipped with a revolving door, costing companies and institutions millions annually. Making a pitch to attend the SFMA Conference isn’t a career-changing event, but it could be a first step toward getting to where you want to go.
Reach out to any one of us who have been there. I hope to see you in Fort Worth.
Joe Churchill is Fields and Grounds Specialist for Reinders, Inc., Plymouth, Minnesota, and a member of the SFMA Editorial Committee.